Auger bucket for machines for digging caissons and the like



- May 7, 1935. E. H. SIEBEL 2,000,195

AUGER BUCKET FOR MACHINES FOR DIGGING CAI SSONS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept.6, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l y 1935- E.IH. SIEBEL 2,000,195

AUGER BUCKET FOR MACHINES FOR DIGGING CAI'SSONS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept.6, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E, H. SIEBEL 2,000,195

AUGER BUCKET FOR MACHINES FOR DIGGING CAISSONS AND THE LIKE May 7, 1935.

Filed Sept. 6, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATESW PATENT OFFICE:

AUGER BUCKET FOR MACHINES FOR DIG- GING CAISSONS AND THE LIKEApplication Septemberfi, 1932, Serial No. 631,850 12 Claims. (Cl.2255-19) This invention relates to apparatus for digging deep holes oflarge diameter such as caisson holes and the like. It has moreparticular reference to improvement in the earth conveying diggingaugers provided for use in such apparatus. 1

A principal object of the present invention is the provision of animproved earth conveying and digging auger for use in the apparatus ofthe character of that shown in the application of Hilmar Emil Satre,Serial Number 517,845, filed February 24, 1931 for improvements inCaisson boring machines, which application has matured into Patent No.1,998,591, issued April 23, 1935- and been assigned to Spencer, Whiteand Prentis, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation ofConnecticut.

An important object of the invention is the provision of an excavatingand conveying auger bucket for use in the machine of said applicationand other machines which will be self discharging when the bucket hasbeen lifted out of the hole for emptying and through the actionofdevices wholly or substantially wholly automatic in their action. V

The invention contemplates in this regard the performance of the diggingoperation by arranging the bucket in contact with the floor of the holeand its rotation to cause cutting elements on the bottom of the bucketto dig the earth and deliver it through slots in the bucket bottom, un-

til the bucket has received a full charge of excavated earth, The bucketis then raised to above the ground and to a discharge station, whereuponrotation is accomplished in the opposite direction to quickly dischargethe excavated earth back out through the slots, preferably through theinfluence of devices which press the earth down into the bucket as it isemptied and which produce a relative rotation between the slotted bucketbottom and the contained charge of earth, so that the charge is slicedback through the slots at relatively high speed. Additionally theinvention contemplates the automatic timing of the operation of the lastmentioned devices to start them into operative action immediately afterthe arrival of the bucket in upper or'discharge position, to render themineffective at completion of the discharge operation, and to return themto initial position as an incident to the start of downward movement ofthe bucket for the next succeeding excavating step.

Another important object of the invention is improvement in side cutterconstruction for auger buckets of the character described, and moreparticularly to provide a side cutter construction adapted to cooperatewith the discharge mechanism earlier mentioned.

. An important object of the invention is the provision of a side cutterfor a rotating digging and conveying auger adapted for the forming ofcaisson holes and the like, which shall be of sturdy construction andwhich may be moved into and out of digging positions by the rotativemovements of the auger itself and without the necessity of providingspecial control mechanisms.

The invention contemplates the attainment of the several foregoingobjects and purposes in apparatus sufficiently sturdy in constructionand efficient in operation to permit of the digging of deep holes forcaisson construction and other purposes, of large diameter as forexample, four, six, and eight feet and more.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description which taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings discloses a preferred embodiment thereof. 1

Referring to the drawings, I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a combined digsing and conveying augerbucket embody n the instant invention, parts of the excavating apparatusbeing disclosed;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the struc ture of Figure 1, takensubstantially on the line 22;

Figure 3 is a top plan view taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2; V

Figure 4 is a bottomplan view of'the auger bucket shown in Figure 1; v

Figure 5 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure 1. v

The caisson apparatus of the co-pending Satre application abovementioned employs a main digging shaft which extends down through thehole with its axis in registration with the axis of the hole, and acombined digging and conveying bucket is mounted on this shaftandslides-from digging to discharge positions. The bucket is keyed tothe shaft against independent rotation so that rotation of the shaftimparts digging rotation to the bucket. So much of this apparatus as isthought necessary to an understanding'of the instant invention is shownon the drawings.

. Reference character ll indicates a front I- beam member of the mainframe of the machine,

' and reference characters l2 front to back strucment with the bottomedge of the cylindrical part.

l5 throughout substantially degrees as indicated at l1. The bottom edgeof the part 15 is cut back from the opposite ends of a diameterindicated at a-a in Figure 2 in the form of a helix throughout degreesand each bottom member I6 is extended beyond its connection H with thecylindrical body |5 to provide a slot l8 between its edge i9 and theadjacent (but lower) edge 2| of the adjacent or other member I6.

A digging element 23 is secured by bolts 24 or the like to extendforwardly across the slot I8 from the forward edge of each bottom memberl6, and each of these digging elements is or may be provided withserrations or teeth 25. Digging elements 26 are also provided forattachment to the body |5 at 21 and extend forwardly as indicated at 28to provide lower side and reaming cutters arranged at the floor of thehole.

The auger bucket thus constructed is mounted upon a sleeve 3| embracingthe shaft l3 and having keyways 32 matching the keys M of the shaft.Plates 33 are provided at the bottom to connect the inner edges of thebottom members |6with the sleeve 3|.

Openings indicated at 36 are arranged through opposite sides of the body|5 to receive earth excavated by reamers, the construction and mountingof which will now be described. Reamer blades 31 are mounted upon thefree edges of doors 38 pivoted on inclined pivots 39 for movement from aposition closing the openings 36 outwardly into digging positions wherethe digging or reaming elements 31 cut away the side wall.

of the hole and the doors 38 sweep the earth into the interior of thebucket. The doors 38 are so mounted that when the bucket rotates in itscutting action, the reamers or digging elements 31 are swung outwardlyinto engagement with the sides or wall of the hole. presented surfacecauses thereamers or. digging elements 31 to cut into the earth untilstopped by limiting chains 4| secured to the doors at. 42 and to thebody |5 at 43. Continued rotation of the bucket causes reaming of thehole and delivery of the excavated earth through the openings 36.

The diameter of cut may be varied by increasing or decreasing the chainlengths 4|. When, however, the bucket is given suflicient rotation inthe reverse direction, the center of gravity of the doors 38 having beenlifted in the opening movement of the doors, the doors automaticallyclose by gravity as soon as the reaming or excavating elements 31 arefreed of their engagement withthe wall of the hole.

As has been earlier explained, means are provided for automaticallyaccomplishing discharge of each charge of earth received into the bucketas soon as the bucket is lifted to a discharge position above thesurface. The bucket is lifted from the hole, sliding upwardly on theshaft l3 bymeans of two cables 44 secured at their lower ends at 45 in across-yoke 46 rotatably connectentangling or twisting of the cables 44.-The yoke Engagement with the 46 is or may be pivotally mounted at 50 toprovide for uneven lengths of the cables 44.

An inner sleeve or shell 5| of unitary rigid structure is mounted withinthe body l5 and extends substantially throughout its height. Its bottomedge 52 is arranged within slots'53 provided between the higher portionsof the bottom .members l6 and the side of the body |5 of the bucket. Aspider 54 connected at its ends at 55, is arranged within the top of thesleeve 5| to loosely embrace the sleeve 3| and is supported.

by a ball bearing. 56 from the sleeve 3|. The shell 5| is normallylocked to the body l5 by two locking dogs 51 pivoted at 58 in oppositelyextending arms of the spider 54, the outer ends of these dogs beingarranged in registering slots 59 and 6| of the sleeves l5 forming thecylindrical part of the bucket body and 5| arranged within the bucket.-The sleeve 5| is provided with openings 6|! which register withopenings 36 in the bucket body.

Two downwardly extending posts 62 are secured to brackets 63 carried bythe frame members l2. The'lower ends of these posts are arranged invertical registration with tails 64 of the dogs 51. Figure 3 shows theposition of the bucket and its several parts as the bucket approachesthe upper end of its travel. Further upward movement of the bucket fromthe position shown causes the posts 62 to engage the dogs and swingthem' from the horizontal position'shown up out of the slots 59 and. 6|and into rigid clips 65 where they are engaged to prevent rotation ofthe shell 5| while the bucket is in its uppermost or dischargingposition. v Thus arranged the bucket may be rotated by rotation of theshaft l3 in direction opposite to that given the bucket in digging tocause the upper edges IQ of the bottom member M5 to cut away the chargeof earth to deliver it out through the slot to empty the bucket.

Means are or may be provided to continually press down the charge as theshell is emptied. A'

plunger 1| is arranged within the shell 5| upon a bushing 12 embracingthesleeve 3|. A threaded engagement is provided between the sleeve 3|and the bushing 12, this threaded engagement consisting in the presentinstance of a thread 13 on the sleeve 3| and a spiral recess 14 in thebushing. Two keys or ribs 15 are arranged upon the inner surface of thesleeve 5| in position for engagement with slots'16 in the plunger. Thesekeys extend from adjacent the bottom to adjacent but below the upperposition of the plunger.

the keys 15 under the influence of the thread 13 to press the charge outof the slots at the bottom of the bucket. When the plunger reaches thebottom it is disposed beneath the lower ends of the keys 15 and mayrotate idly with the shaft.-

SA dog 11 is pivoted-at 18 at the lower end of each key which may beswung up out of the way as the plunger starts this idle rotation andwhich operates as a latch to reengage a slot 16 when the sleeve 5| isrotated in the opposite direction. The dogs '11 then form continuationsof the keys earth to facilitate the discharge through the slots.

andcause thethread to lift the plunger back to its upper normalposition.

As the bucket is lowered after discharge, the

dogs 51 reengage in the slots 59 and BI to accomplish conjoint rotationof the sleeve 5! and bucket I5 during the digging.

To facilitate rotation between the body l5 of the bucket about thesleeve 5! while the discharge is being accomplished rollers 18 arrangedin carriers 8| secured in the body It: may be providedto engage theopposed outer surface of the sleeve 5|. I V It is thought that theinvention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood fromthe foregoing without further description, and it will be apparent thatvarious changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention orsacrificing many of its material advantages, the form hereinbeforedescribed being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: r

1. An auger for digging caisson holes and the like, comprising acylindrical bucket-having radial earth receiving slots in its bottom andprovided with digging elements for digging onthe floor of the hole anddelivering the excavated earth through said slots into-said bucket, andmeans within the bucket for discharging the excavated earth receivedthrough said slots out through the slots in a tangential direction afterthe bucket has been removed from the hole for discharge.

2. An auger for digging caisson holes and the like, comprising acylindrical bucket having earth receiving slots in its bottom andprovided with digging elements for digging on the floor of the hole anddelivering the excavated earth through said slots into said bucket, andmeans within the bucket for rotating the charge of excavated earthcarried by the bucket to accomplish discharge of said earth through saidslots.

3. An auger for digging caisson holes and the like,comprising acylindrical bucket having radial earth receiving slots in its bottom andprovided ith digging elements for digging on the floor of the hole anddelivering the excavated earth through said slots into said bucket, andmeans within the bucket when at a discharge position for comminuting andmoving the earth contained in the bucket out through said slots to emptythe bucket.

4. An auger for digging caisson holes and the like, comprising acylindrical bucket having earth receiving slots in its bottom andprovided with digging elements for digging on the floor of the hole anddelivering the excavated earth through said slots into said bucket, andmeans within the bucket when at a discharge position for removing theearth contained in the bucket out through said slots to empty thebucket, said means including a device for rotating the charge of earthrela-.

tively to the slots in the bottom of the bucket.

5. An auger for digging caisson holes and the like, comprising acylindrical bucket having earth receiving slots in its bottom andprovided with digging elements for digging on the floor of the hole anddelivering the excavated earth through said slots into said bucket, andmeans within the bucket when at a discharge position for moving theearth contained in the bucket out through said slots to empty thebucket, said means including a device pressing upon the contained earthfor forcing it out through the slots as the bucket is emptied, and adevice for comminuting the 6. An auger for digging caisson holes and thelike, comprising a cylindrical bucket having earth receiving slots inits'bottom and provided with digging elements for digging on the floorof the hole and delivering the excavated earth through said slots intosaid bucket, and means within the bucket when at a discharge positionfor moving the earth contained in the bucket out through said slots toempty the bucket, said means including devices conjointly operable, one,for producing relative rotation between the charge of earth'in thebucket and, two, forpressing downwardly ion the material as the bucketis emptied.

7. An auger fordigging caisson holes and the like, comprising acylindrical bucket-having digging elements on its bottom and dischargingdevices in its interior, said digging devices .being operable to dig andfill the bucket upon rotation of the'bucket in one direction, and saiddischarging devices being operable by relative rotation in the oppositedirection. i 1

8. An auger for digging caisson holes and the like; comprising acylindrical bucket having earth receiving slots in its bottom, andprovided with digging elements for digging on the floor of thehole anddischarging the excavated earth through saidslots into said bucket,said'bucket having also an earth receiving opening in its side, anda-door for said opening provided at its free edge with a reaming elementfor enlarging the diameter of the hole, said door being pivoted to swingfrom an opening closing position to a digging position by rotation ofthe bucket in its digging operation, in combination with an innercylindrical earth receiving shell rotatable relative to the augerbucket, and means associated therewith to forcibly expel the charge ofearth.

9. In an excavating apparatus, a cylindrical auger having on its lowerface earth receiving slots and provided with digging devices adjacentthe slots discharging thereinto, means to rotate devices to feed theearth through the slots to the interior and in the opposite direction todischarge the earth outwardly through said slots, a cylindrical earthretaining shell concentrically disposed within the auger and havingopenings registering with the auger slots, means to lock the shell andauger together for common rotation in a digging direction, means torelease the connection between the shell and auger prior to rotation ofthe auger in a discharging direction, and means associated with theinner shell for release to expel the earth from the inner shell and tohold the shell against rotation with the auger in a dischargingdirection, the expelling means comprising a follower resting upon the.earth in the shell and means to feed the follower downwardly uponreverse rotation of the auger.

10. In an excavating apparatus, a cylindrical auger having on its lowerface earth receiving slots and provided with digging devices adjacentrotation in'a digging direction, means to release lease to expel theearth from the inner shell and. to hold the shell against rotation withthe auger in a discharging direction, the expelling meanscomprising afollower resting upon the earth in the shell and means to feed thefollower downwardly upon reverse rotation of the auger.

11. In an excavating apparatus, a cylindrical auger having on its lowerand side faces earth receiving slots and provided with lower and sidedigging devices adjacent the slots discharging thereinto, means torotate the auger in one direction to cause the digging devices to feedthe earth through the slots to the interior and in the oppositedirection to discharge the earth outwardly through said slots, saidmeans comprisinga rotatable guide shaft disposed axially of the augerand having a splined engagement therewith, a

cylindrical earth retaining shell, concentrically disposed within theauger and having openings registering with the auger slots, means tolock the shell and anger together for common rotation in a, diggingdirection, means to release the connection between the shell and augerprior to rotation of the auger in a discharging direction, and meansassociated with the inner shell for release to expel the earth from theinner shell and-to hold the shell against rotation with the auger in adischarging direction, the expelling means comprising a follower restingupon the earth in the shell and means to feed the follower downwardlyupon reverse rotation of the auger. 12. In an excavating apparatus, acylindrical auger having on its lower face earth receiving slots andprovided with digging devices adjacent the slots discharging thereinto,means to rotate the auger in one direction to cause the diggingdevices'to feed the earth through the slots to the interior and in theopposite direction, to discharge the earth outwardly through said slots,at cylindrical earth retaining shell concentrically disposed within theauger and having openings registering with the auger slots, means tolock the shell and auger together for common rotation in a diggingdirection, means to release the connection between the shell and augerprior to rotation of the auger in a discharging direction, and meansassociated with the inner shell for release to expel the earth from theinner shell and to hold the shell against rotation with the auger in adischarging direction, the expelling means comprising a follower restingupon the earth in the shell and means to feed the follower downwardlyupon reverse rotation of theauger, said means comprising a helixrotatable with the auger and having a threaded connection with thefollower.

EWALD H. SIEBEL.

